Enjoy festivals, concert series and other fun events in our Village of Sugar Mountain and nearby in the Blue Ridge Mountains:
May 24-September 1st (Labor Day), 2025: Grillin & Chillin Wednesday Summer Concerts
The Caddyshack Café at Sugar Mountain’s Golf and Tennis Club hosts the popular summer live music series kicks off Memorial Day and continues Wednesdays 6-9 PM through Labor Day. Special dinner feature, along with beer and wine, are available to purchase. Enjoy food, drinks and tunes on the big deck overlooking the golf course and panoramic mountain views. Wear your dancing shoes! Free admission. Get details.
May 23-May 26, 2025: Memorial Day Weekend Scenic Lift Rides & Bike Park
On Friday through Monday, ride the scenic Summit Express lift to the top or navigate the downhill bike trails. Open 10 AM-6 PM. Food Truck Festival by the ski lodge on Saturday, 11 AM-7 PM. Get details.
May 24, 2025: Food Truck Festival
Pick from a big variety of food trucks at the ski lodge. See our special Memorial Day Weekend Guide for details on this and other happenings.
May 24-25, July 5-6, Aug 2-3 & 30-31, 2025: Art on the Greene
See top quality, handmade art and crafts in nearby Banner Elk. Read more.
Mid June – August: Concerts in the Park
Enjoy a variety of bands at Tate-Evans Park in downtown Banner Elk on Thursday evenings with free admission. Read more.
Mid June – Early July: FORUM Concerts at Lees-McRae College
This summer concert series on Monday evenings include a big variety of live music performances by nationally touring groups. Read more.
Summer Weekends: Scenic Lift Rides & Bike Park
Ride the ski lift up to the top of Sugar Mountain on Memorial Day Weekend and Friday-Sundays July 4th through Labor Day. Take a picnic to enjoy the big views and hike out to the rocky summit. Mountain Bike Park open – riders take the lift up and then race down the trails to repeat. Get details.
July: Lees-McRae Summer Theatre
Go to Broadway in the mountains with professional musicals – just a few miles away in Banner Elk. Read more.
May 24-25, July 5-6, Aug 2-3 & 30-31, 2025: Art on the Greene
See top quality, handmade art and crafts in nearby Banner Elk. Read more.
July 4, 2025: Summit Crawl
Run, hike, climb, or crawl from the ski lodge to Sugar Mountain’s 5,300-foot peak by way of the grassy slopes. The 1.2-mile route climbs 1,200 in elevation! There is no time limit. Entry fee includes a t-shirt and downhill transportation on the Summit Express lift. Kicks off at 9 AM. Advance registration required. Get details.
July 4, 2025: Parade & Fireworks
At 11 AM, enjoy the July 4th Parade in nearby downtown Banner Elk. That evening, watch the fireworks display around 9:15 PM on Sugar Mountain from the lodge or ride the lift for an up-close view at the summit. Get details.
July 10-13, 2025: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
The biggest event in the NC High Country is America’s grandest Scottish Games, held in a spectacular mountain setting reminiscent of Scotland. This very unique festival brings bagpipes, tartan plaids, multiple stages of live music, crafts, food and traditional wares. Watch continuous athletic competitions, dancing, piping parades, sheep dog demonstrations and much more. 6 miles from Sugar Mountain. Get details.
August 2-3, 2025: Art on the Greene
See top quality, handmade art and crafts in nearby Banner Elk. Read more.
August 30-31, 2025: Art on the Greene
See top quality, handmade art and crafts in nearby Banner Elk. Read more.
Postponed for 2025: Autumn at Oz
The former amusement park based on the Wizard of Oz comes back to life with the return of all the characters, the largest Wizard of Oz festival in the country. Walk the Yellow Brick Road to Emerald City with many stops along the way. Read more.
October 11 & 12, 2025: Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain
Find a festive Bavarian atmosphere that is very family-friendly with many things to do. Festival admission, parking and shuttles are free. All the fun takes place at the Ski Lodge (1009 Sugar Mountain Drive). The festivities take place 10 AM until 5 PM Saturday and Sunday and include live Bavarian music, costume contest, kids fun center, scenic chairlift rides and beer. Get details.
October 18-19, 2025: Woolly Worm Festival
Watch the woolly worms race to select the winner to predict the winter weather and explore the craft fair with 175 vendors. Also enjoy live music and rides for the kids. Saturday 9am-5pm & Sunday 9am-4pm at the Historic Banner Elk Elementary School, 185 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk. From the entrance of Sugar Mountain, simply turn left and drive 2.5 miles. Get details.
October 18, 2025: Valle Country Fair
Just 10 miles from Sugar Mountain is one of the most beloved, authentic celebration of our Blue Ridge with the best local food, crafts, music and dance. Feast on Brunswick Stew, chili, BBQ and more. Take home fresh baked goods, homemade jams & jellies and apple butter made while you watch. Find a big selection of handmade arts and crafts by the finest regional artists, and tap your feet to bluegrass and country bands. Go to our Valle Country Fair Guide.
Mid November-Mid December: Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Farms are open so you can pick out and take home the perfect Christmas tree! See our list of choose & cut farms and tips for picking the perfect tree.
December 5-7, 2025: Small Town Christmas kicks off the holiday season with many free events and activities for all ages in downtown Banner Elk. Read more.
December 12-14, 2025: SugarFest is a weekend full of fun includes consumer ski/snowboard equipment demos, live music performed by The Collective, fireworks at dusk, preseason ski clinic with two-time Olympian, Krista Schmidinger, appearances by Sweetie and Sugar Bear, and lodging specials. Indulge in a hot chocolate and whipped cream bar, a soup safari and North Carolina BBQ during SugarFEAST. Sponsored by the Village of Sugar Mountain TDA, and Ski Country Sports. Go to their website for details.
November 28 – December 28th, plus December 22, 23, 29 & 30th: Tweetsie Christmas features a train ride through thousands of lights at Tweetsie Railroad amusement park, about 30 minutes drive from Sugar Mountain. Enjoy the rides, shops, Santa, and much more. Read more.
Go to our seasonal guides for things to do all year: Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall